Former NFL star Deion Sanders recently caused a debate among Christians when he briefly spoke in tongues.
Sanders, 59, is the head coach of the University of Colorado Buffaloes. His team had just defeated Weber State 52-21.
Just before he addressed the press, Sanders appeared to speak in tongues under his breath for about ten seconds.
This caused an immediate response from believers who don’t believe the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today.
According to an article in the Christian Post, one outspoken Christian commentator, OutKick’s Jon Root, responded critically with a post on X.
“Colorado HC Deion Sanders attempted to ‘pray in tongues’ before starting a press conference,” Root wrote. “This is nonsensical babbling. Not Biblical at all.”
Notably, this was similar to the response that some had on the Day of Pentecost. When the Holy Spirit fell on the 120 disciples in the Upper Room.
After the disciples poured into the streets of Jerusalem speaking in tongues, many people were amazed, others bewildered (Acts 2:12) when they heard their own language being spoken.
But not everyone. Some mocked the disciples accusing them of being drunk:
“But others were jeering and saying, ‘They are full of sweet wine!’” (Acts 2:13 NASB)
Peter then addressed this crowd filled with the amazed, the bewildered and the mockers, telling them that this outpouring had been prophesied by Joel.
But then Peter added, “and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Peter said that this promise of the Holy Spirit with its associated gift of tongues was for everyone who believes in Jesus. Everyone includes past, present, and future believers and of course, includes Jon Root.
Several responded to Root’s criticism. In a TikTok video, Pastor Matt Green turned to 1 Corinthians 14 to show why Sanders was speaking in tongues before he took questions.
“Coach is building up; he’s strengthening himself; he’s getting ready,” Green said. “He’s saying I need to speak in my heavenly language to the One that is going to bring me through this.“
As Paul explains in verse 4, a believer builds himself up in the faith through speaking in tongues. Jude followed a similar theme, writing, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,” (Jude 20).
Though easily the most controversial time Sanders spoke in tongues, it was not the first time he publicly did this. In a 2023 video, he spoke in tongues after praying in English.
In a 2022 interview on Chris Neely’s “Thee Pregame Show”, Sanders told how he repeatedly spoke in tongues in the hospital after being diagnosed with blood clots in his legs.
“I know all the speaking in tongues and the prayer, fellowship with God, and the praising Him, through and through. I’m pretty sure some of those nurses thought I was crazy,” Sanders said.
Sanders became a believer in 1997, after he attempted suicide.
The gift of tongues is very much for today and is still causing the same reactions as it did 2,000 years ago.
OpentheWord.org 
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